Monday, May 5, 2014

I've decided to retire The Greatest Comeback Ever blog as I continue a physical training experiment I just started. I would urge those who haven't seen my 300+ posts on www.torunistolive.blogspot.com to take some time and check them out. As I have said before, I look around the Net and I don't see any 'running' sites like mine. I say this not to brag but 50+ years of total involvement in running does bring it's insights. It's more than just a running and training site. I may add a few new posts soon.
Make your fitness and health a priority!

Saturday, March 1, 2014

"One should not torture himself over a single mistake. What is essential is one's presence of mind hereafter. When one makes a mistake, he should not be hesitant to correct it. Making a mistake and not correcting it, this is the real mistake."
Evaluate and re-evaluate, be introspective. I hear athletes repeatedly asking why they are not seeing improvement in their performances. There's a reason for this.
"Do all things with patience."
The impatient athlete tends to be a self-defeating one.
"Be master of mind rather than mastered by mind."
For most of us that takes awareness of how we are and the desire to acquire mastery over ourselves. Again, being introspective is the key.
"We do not rise to the level of our expectations. We fall to the level of our training."
Great quote here, positive thinking and Jerry Lynch affirmations are only as good as the training you've done.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

I continue to be amazed at the number of men and women who are turning their bodies into billboards by tattooing. Who under the age of 40 doesn't have at least one? I've got three and regret the fact I ever got one, much less three. It's all about vanity, plain and simple. The following raises some legitimate health concerns about this increasingly popular practice.

Can Tattoo Ink Lead to Cancer?

It has been said that “tattoo ink is remarkably nonreactive histologically, despite the frequent use of different pigments of unknown purity and identity by tattoo artists.” 1
However, University of Bradford researchers using an atomic force microscope (AFM) that allows them to examine skin with tattoos at the nano-level have found evidence that suggests otherwise. In a preliminary study (the first to use an AFM to examine tattoos), the researchers found that the tattoo process remodels collagen (your body’s main connective tissue).2
Further, nanoparticles from tattoo ink were found to exist in both the collagenous network of the skin as well as around blood vessels. This suggests that the ink particles are leaving the surface of your skin and traveling elsewhere in your body, where they could potentially enter organs and other tissues.
This is problematic because tattoo inks are largely unregulated and known to contain cancer-causing compounds. The researchers believe the issue could become a significant public health concern given the rise in tattooing in the last decade, noting:

“We need to do more work, but there is no question that these substances can be toxic. It takes a long time for the multi-step nature of cancer to show its face and I don’t think we should wait to see if there is anything wrong with these ingredients.”

Nanoparticles in Tattoo Ink May be Carcinogenic

Nanoparticles are ultramicroscopic in size, making them able to readily penetrate your skin and travel to underlying blood vessels and your bloodstream. Evidence suggests that some nanoparticles may induce toxic effects in your brain and cause nerve damage, and some may also be carcinogenic.
In 2011, a study in The British Journal of Dermatology revealed that nanoparticles are indeed found in tattoo inks,3 with black pigments containing the smallest particles (white pigments had the largest particles and colored pigments were in between).
With the exception of the white pigments, the researchers noted that “the vast majority of the tested tattoo inks contained significant amounts” of nanoparticles. “The black pigments were almost pure NPs [nanoparticles], i.e. particles with at least one dimension <100 nm,” they said.

Black-Ink Tattoos May be the Riskiest

The black ink is the color most often linked to potential adverse health effects, although all tattoo inks have toxic potential, including:

May contain carcinogenic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) like benzo(a)pyrene (a Class 1 carcinogen according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer)

Since black ink may contain a significant amount of nanoparticles, it is likely that such toxins could find easy entrance into your bloodstream, perhaps worsening their effects. Writing in Experimental Dermatology, researchers highlighted the dangerous potential of tattoo inks (particularly black) even beyond nanoparticles:6

“Black tattoo inks are usually based on soot, are not regulated and may contain hazardous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Part of PAHs possibly stay lifelong in skin, absorb UV radiation and generate singlet oxygen, which may affect skin integrity.

… Tattooing with black inks entails an injection of substantial amounts of phenol and PAHs into skin. Most of these PAHs are carcinogenic and may additionally generate deleterious singlet oxygen inside the dermis when skin is exposed to UVA (e.g. solar radiation).”

While so far incidences of skin cancer appearing on tattooed skin has been deemed coincidental,7 it is largely unknown whether the inks may be contributing to cancers, or other health problems, elsewhere in the body. It’s known, for instance, that some tattoo pigment may migrate from your skin into your body’s lymph nodes.8 According to Dr. Samuel Epstein, a well-respected professional in cancer prevention:

“… the evidence which we’ve accumulated so far, is largely restricted to the fact that they [nanoparticles] get into your bloodstream and reach organs throughout your body. And as far as the brain is concerned, we have actual evidence of entry into the brain and producing toxic effects -- lesions, small lesions, toxic effects in the brain.”

Tattoo Inks are Not Regulated in the US, Most are Industrial-Grade Products

Inks and ink colorings (pigments) used for tattoos are technically subject to regulation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as cosmetics and color additives. However, the Agency states that because of other public health priorities and a “previous lack of evidence of safety concerns,” they have not traditionally regulated such products.9 As such, many dyes used in tattooing are actually produced for industrial uses such as car paint or printers’ ink, for instance.
To date there have been no systemic studies to look at the safety of injecting such inks into the body, although the National Center for Toxicological Research is conducting research to determine:

The chemical composition of tattoo inks and how they break down in your body

The short-term and long-term safety of tattoo inks and pigments

How your body responds to the interaction of light with the inks

The Friends of the Earth – a global network of grassroots groups – is among those now calling for proper regulation of tattoo inks amidst the new findings that they may contribute to cancer.10 In the meantime, it may be wise to “think before you ink,” as the FDA recommends, at least until further research is completed (and remember that permanent makeup is also a form of tattoo

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Some thoughts on longevity---As in anything---the proof or the merit of something is in....the proof, not the claim of someone who says they know. If I told you that eating only raw foods for the rest of your life would make you healthy and long lived, I would hope that you'd ask me, who are the people who have lived long lives doing so? It is only common sense that something which purports to be so has a factual basis for such a claim.
With that said, research was done on people who lived long vigorous lives. Researchers wanted to see if there were any qualities that were prevalent among them, this is what they found. It is by no means a comprehensive list but here are some of the similar characteristics:
"A study was done to find out what long lived people have in common. There are a few interesting things that stand out:

They mistrust doctors, preferring to do their own research about their body and get second and third opinions before taking a course of action.

They have a great sense of humour.

They are quite naughty, and playful in their attitude to life.

They are rebels, preferring to follow their own inner inspiration rather than being sheep following the flock.

They have a deeply intuitive sense about life, listening to their inner wisdom and trusting it.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

"The person who is interested in alcohol must be living in misery, in a kind of suffering. That’s why he wants somehow to forget it all. Alcohol is nothing but a chemical strategy to forget your miseries, anxieties, your problems, to forget yourself. When you are too worried, too tense and you take to alcohol. Yes, for a few hours you will forget all your worries and all your tensions, but the alcohol cannot take your worries away forever; it cannot solve them. And while you are drowned in alcohol those worries are growing, becoming stronger; you are giving them time to grow. And when you are back the next morning with a hangover and a headache added to the worries, you will be surprised; they are bigger than when you had left them. Then it becomes a pattern of life: become again and again intoxicated so you can forget — but again and again you have to face your life. This is not an intelligent way to live. I am against all intoxicants, against all drugs. They don’t help; they only help you to postpone problems."

The above nails it--it's all about escape and release done in a most unhealthy way.

Saturday, February 8, 2014

I'm sure most of you are familiar with Quinoa,a grain that has exploded in popularity over the last few years in the U.S. Viewed as a healthier alternative to rice, this grain comes from the seed of the goosefoot species and originated in Peru and Bolivia. Since 2007 U.S. imports have risen from 7 million to more that 70 million pounds a year. Farmers in South America are struggling to meet the increasing demand. Now here's the irony, Quinoa, which was once a staple for many South Americans, is too expensive for most of them to afford because of the rising price related to it's new found popularity here.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Why is eating five times a day better than three? Consider the following:
"Always eat at least 5 times a day. Two or three are simply not enough. It is permissible to regard two of these meals as snacks provided they contain sufficient calories to get you to your next meal and they are comprised of the appropriate amount of macronutrients(carbohydrates, fats and proteins). The reason? Your blood sugar and insulin levels will be controlled(and thus your energy level), you will get protein in small amounts throughout the day to support growth and recovery, and (most important) body fat will not be stored, but instead mobilized as an energy source. By providing your body with a consistent and frequent supply of just the right number of calories, its need to store fat is reduced. Conversely, when you eat infrequently, your body recognizes a "famine" situation and your entire endocrine system (powerful hormones produced inside your body that control how you grow, recover and produce energy) is thrown for a loop. Then, too much of the food consumed is stored as body fat in preparation for the "famine" to come.
Also, in planning your daily meals(or snacks),a caloric ratio of approximately 1 part fat, 2 parts protein and 3 parts carbohydrate is a good place to begin."

Speaking from personal experience, the above works. After years of being chronically hungry most of the day because I bought into the myth that long distance runners needed a diet predominately comprised of carbs, I finally smartened up. No more being hungry two hours after eating. You have to have a significant amount of quality protein in your diet as well as fat.
Too many athletes, particularly runners and triathletes, eat diets that seem to be "third world" in content, substance and nutritional value.

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Cancer--the big C--there's not a person around who hasn't been effected by it--either you've had it personally or someone in your family has. The following are some things you can do to lessen or eliminate your chances of getting it. With cancer--prevention is THE KEY! Dealing with it after your diagnosed is much worse than preventing it from occurring in the first place.
I will say this, I disagree with the author's condemning of soy. I have read elsewhere that soy is not the demon food that so many like to make it out to be these days. Take the initiative today to protect your health, with cancer, tomorrow may be too late.

Avoid sugar, especially fructose. All forms of sugar are detrimental to health in general and promote cancer. Fructose, however, is clearly one of the most harmful and should be avoided as much as possible. Optimize your vitamin D. Vitamin D influences virtually every cell in your body and is one of nature's most potent cancer fighters. Vitamin D is actually able to enter cancer cells and trigger apoptosis (cell death). If you have cancer, your vitamin D level should be between 70 and 100 ng/ml. Vitamin D works synergistically with every cancer treatment I'm aware of, with no adverse effects. I suggest you try watching my one-hour free lecture on vitamin D to learn more. Engage in regular exercise. There have been loads of recent studies that show a very powerful effect of exercise in dramatically lowering your risk of cancer. It most likely does this through optimizing insulin and leptin signaling.Avoid unfermented soy products. Unfermented soy is high in plant estrogens, or phytoestrogens, also known as isoflavones. In some studies, soy appears to work in concert with human estrogen to increase breast cell proliferation, which increases the chances for mutations and cancerous cells. Improve your insulin receptor sensitivity. The best way to do this is by avoiding sugar and most all grains even organic ones as if you are one of the two thirds of the people that are overweight they could likely be worsening your insulin and leptin signaling. Maintain a healthy body weight. This will come naturally when you begin eating the right foods and exercising. It's important to lose excess body fat because fat produces estrogen. Drink a quart of organic green vegetable juice daily. Please review my juicing instructions for more detailed information. Get plenty of high quality animal-based omega-3 fats, such as krill oil. Omega-3 deficiency is a common underlying factor for cancer, and since most cancers have an inflammatory component, with up-regulated Cox-2 enzyme activity, omega-3 fats – particularly EPA – will directly interfere with the inflammatory process. Curcumin. This is the active ingredient in turmeric and in high concentrations it can be a very useful adjunct in the treatment of cancer. For example, it has demonstrated major therapeutic potential in preventing breast cancer metastasis.2 In fact, the biomedical literature now confirms that it has potential in preventing and/or combating well over 100 different types of cancer.3 It's important to know that curcumin is generally not absorbed that well, so I've provided several absorption tips here. Avoid drinking alcohol, or at least limit your alcoholic drinks to one per day for women, two for men.Avoid electromagnetic fields as much as possible. Even electric blankets can increase your cancer risk. Also be very cautious with your cell phone usage.Avoid synthetic hormone replacement therapy, especially if you have risk factors for breast cancer. Breast cancer is an estrogen-related cancer, and according to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute,4 breast cancer rates for women dropped in tandem with decreased use of hormone replacement therapy. (There are similar risks for younger women who use oral contraceptives. Birth control pills, which are also comprised of synthetic hormones, have been linked to cervical and breast cancers.)
If you are experiencing excessive menopausal symptoms, you may want to consider bioidentical hormone replacement therapy instead, which uses hormones that are molecularly identical to the ones your body produces and do not wreak havoc on your system. This is a much safer alternative. Avoid BPA, phthalates and other xenoestrogens. These are estrogen-like compounds that have been linked to increased breast cancer risk, found widely in plastics, personal care products and other household goods.Watch out for excessive iron levels. This is actually very common once women stop menstruating, and also in some men. The extra iron actually works as a powerful oxidant, increasing free radicals and raising your risk of cancer. Fortunately, checking your iron levels is easy and can be done with a simple blood test called a serum ferritin test. I believe this is one of the most important tests that everyone should have done on a regular basis as part of a preventive, proactive health screen. Ferritin is the iron transport protein and should not be above 80. If it is elevated you can simply donate your blood to reduce it.Make sure you're not iodine deficient, as there's compelling evidence linking iodine deficiency with certain forms of cancer. Dr. David Brownstein,5 author of the book Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It, is a proponent of iodine for breast cancer. It actually has potent anticancer properties and has been shown to cause cell death in breast and thyroid cancer cells.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Maybe it comes with getting older but as the years go by I have tried to be less critical of others. The following passage from the first page of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald has always stayed with me. I think of it almost every time I get the urge to be critical of someone else. It's so true. As an aside, if you have never read The Great Gatsby you really should. Forget the movie, read this great book!In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gaveme some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mindever since.
‘Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,’ he told me,

Saturday, January 25, 2014

This came to mind as I pondered a response from a writer who became irate after I questioned some incorrect info he had posted on several health/fitness 'gurus'. This person, who identified himself as a fitness author and instructor, went ballistic in his posted response to me, cursing, using insulting and demeaning language. It certainly was a big contrast to the smiling affable picture of himself he has on his Facebook and personal website. When I questioned him about his response in a follow-up letter and said that my simply questioning his info was hardly a reason to respond as he did, the author, rather than answering, simply deleted our posts. How he responded initially said a lot about the kind of person he is. As I said to him, you're a cool guy, as long as no one confronts or questions you.
The proof of who we are is how we walk our talk. For instance,if we say we are religious yet do things distinctly unkind or consistently self-serving then we are a phony and a liar.
If we say we are an expert in something yet become so totally unglued when we are questioned on something we espouse, then we are a fraud. I say this because with questioning comes the opportunity to teach,inform, and even, in some cases, learn.Yes, the teacher can learn, and should always be learning.
In an era when character has been expanded to include behavior and speech that is anything but "character"(our sports 'heroes' and celebs readily come to mind here), it is our choice to be different and not follow the misguided crowd. Truth is truth and real character is, like truth, unchanging.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

tiredness: a state of physical slowness and mental dullness resulting from tiredness, disease, or drugs.

lack of energy: lack of energy, activity, or enthusiasm.As you can see from the above, lethargy includes the mental and the physical aspects of a person. As we age, and I don't necessarily mean becoming a 'senior' citizen here, most people tend to play it safe. We are a little less willingly to take risks and/or go for it. We grow attached to what is familiar and comfortable. The end result of this is often stagnation. For those who complain that their life is boring, they are the ones who have been overcome by lethargy.

Resist lethargy and truly live. Readers to my former blog, www.torunistolive.blogspot.com have read the following quote by Jack London before but it really needs to be repeated here in the hope that even one reader may be seeing this for the first time.

"I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time."

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Initially I thought the following by Dr. Kim was pretty familiar info, you know, what was good, what was bad for your heart, I assumed most of us would have either heard or read about this subject many times in recent years.
However, Dr. Kim's insights into the effects of stress on your heart is informative, alarming and a little frightening. I say this because the majority of us are under some degree of stress. The truth is, more people are "stressed-out" these days than ever before. So,reading at least, How Much Stress You Experience, is vitally important for anyone who has even the slightest interest and concern about their health. This article is speaking to everyone.

"The latest statistics on heart disease indicate that about a third of us will find out that we have heart disease just before we're about to die from it. Fortunately, modern medicine provides us with a number of tools to assess and monitor our cardiovascular health. And more importantly, we are aware of all of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
What follows is a look at the top determinants of the health of your heart and blood vessels, and what you can do to keep your cardiovascular system as healthy as possible.1. How Much Stress You Experience
Your body is well designed to handle temporary spikes of physical and/or emotional stress. Chronic emotional stress is an entirely different beast, one that dramatically increases your risk of heart disease.
When you're stressed, your nervous and endocrine systems work together to cause many of your blood vessels to narrow and your blood to clot quickly - these physiological changes serve you well if you're fighting a grizzly bear, but they increase your risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke over the long haul.
Chronic emotional stress is also likely to accelerate the buildup of plaque in your arteries, regardless of how healthy or unhealthy your diet is. This contention is supported by studies conducted by Kaplan et al. in the early 80's.
It's also well established that chronic emotional stress can induce irregular heartbeats. In some cases, stress-induced arrhythmias can be fatal.
Of all the emotions that fit under the umbrella of chronic emotional stress, studies indicate that chronic depression and anger are the emotional states that are most strongly correlated with an increased risk of experiencing blockage in your coronary arteries and an unexpected heart attack or stroke.
Perhaps the best example of the potential that chronic emotional stress has to damage your heart - even while the arteries supplying your heart are strong and healthy - is a condition called stress cardiomyopathy, sometimes called broken heart syndrome. Stress cardiomyopathy is a state of severe cardiac muscle weakness, brought on by extreme emotional stress (grief, worry, anger, fear, surprise), and when triggered, stress cardiomyopathy can temporarily disable heart function.
So the obvious question is this: What can you do to effectively manage stress to keep your cardiovascular system healthy?
You've already completed the first and most important step, which is to be aware of how damaging chronic emotional stress is to your heart and overall health.
As Dr. Dean Ornish says, "we sometimes view the time we spend relaxing, meditating, and hanging out with our friends and family as luxuries that we do only after the important stuff in our lives is done...studies make it clear that this is the important stuff."
Put another way, make time to engage in relaxing activities that you enjoy.
On a moment-to-moment basis, tune your focus in on your breathing to gauge your emotional state. Quick, shallow breathing is indicative of a stressed state, while slow, deep breathing reflects a relaxed, emotionally balanced state.
Whenever you notice that you're feeling tense, you can consciously decrease stress by taking deep, slow breaths. You can further promote deep relaxation by closing your eyes while you engage in mindful breathing, as a good deal of nervous system stimulation happens courtesy of your vision.
Some people find relaxation CDs to be helpful in systematically tuning out stress and promoting an emotionally balanced state. If you have interest in using such a tool, one that I recommend is EarthRain.
And if you can use some help with getting deep, restorative sleep while faced with significant emotional stressors, you may benefit from a natural sleep aid like Soft Ocean Dreamland.
But most importantly, strive to be aware of the undeniable connection between your stress levels and the health of your heart - this awareness is critical to following a heart-healthy lifestyle. 2. How Active You Are
Contrary to popular belief, über-athletes whose hearts and lungs have extraordinary pumping power and stamina do not have a significantly lower mortality rate than people who lead sedentary existences.
A study published in JAMA in 1989, led by Cooper et al. looked at more than 13,000 people over a period of more than eight years, and found that the greatest benefit from exercising occurred in people who went from being mostly sedentary to engaging in moderate exercise for about 20 to 30 minutes a day. Simply walking at a relaxed pace for a short while each day led to significant improvement in longevity.
The take-home lesson here is that if you're not doing a little exercise every day because you don't think it will make a difference, you're mistaken. You can improve cardiovascular function and extend your lifespan by going for a walk or engaging in any other type of moderate exercise for just 20 to 30 minutes each day. 3. Your Food Choices
Conventional advice for a heart-healthy diet typically involves lowering intake of foods that are rich in saturated fats and cholesterol. The problem with this advice, as I see it, is that it doesn't take into account factors like food quality and cooking temperature. Why do these variables matter?
Consider this: Poached organic eggs and pan-fried bacon both contain significant amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol. But the relatively low cooking temperature that's required to make poached organic eggs is likely to leave the saturated fatty acids and cholesterol found in eggs in healthy states. To pan-fry bacon, a higher cooking temperature is typically used, which increases the chance of ending up with damaged saturated fatty acids and damaged cholesterol, along with free radicals, heterocyclic amines, and other disease-causing compounds thrown into the mix as well.
The truth is that you need a steady supply of saturated fatty acids and cholesterol to be at your best. If this fact is hard for you to accept, and you'd like more information on how your body uses saturated fatty acids and cholesterol, please view: Healthy vs. Unhealthy Fats.
Food quality and cooking temperatures matter. And this is why I don't tell all of my clients that they need to eat less saturated fat and cholesterol. In fact, over the years, I've probably recommended increasing intake of these nutrients more often than I've recommended decreasing their intake, with the understanding that food quality and cooking temperatures must be taken into account.
Steaming and boiling are the healthiest cooking methods for animal foods because they require relatively low temperatures. Pan-frying at high temperatures, deep-frying, barbecuing, and broiling should be avoided most or all of the time, especially when animal foods are involved.
By the way, none of the studies that I have reviewed - dating back to the early 80's - that link saturated fat and cholesterol to heart disease have taken into account food quality and cooking temperatures. It amazes me to repeatedly observe highly respected physicians and scientists not take these variables into account in supporting low-fat, low-cholesterol diets.
Thankfully, most people in self care circles understand that low-fat, low-cholesterol diets that are high in sugar and other highly processed carbohydrates are sure paths to diabetes mellitus type 2 and other forms of cardiovascular disease. Cookies, cereals, and other highly refined foods that are labeled as having low or zero fat but have several grams of sugar per serving are horrible for cardiovascular health. A number of studies indicate that that such foods increase blood levels of the small, dense variety of LDL (sometimes called pattern B), which are more likely than other lipoproteins to contribute to plaque formation in your arteries.
The best foods for your heart include nutrient-rich plant foods like vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and fruits, as well as nutrient-rich animal foods that are not charred to a crisp and that your body can tolerate without discomfort - organic eggs and wild fish are generally well tolerated by the masses.
For more of a comprehensive look at healthy and unhealthy food choices for your heart, please feel free to view: The Best and Worst Foods For Your Heart.What About Genes?
It should be noted that your genes are also a determinant of your cardiovascular health, but your genes mainly mark predispositions, and we know that you can influence how your genes are expressed with your food and lifestyle choices. So ultimately, unless you have a rare genetic condition, your genes are not as important as the factors listed above in determining the health of your cardiovascular system.

Saturday, January 18, 2014

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover." Mark Twain

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

The following article provides info on the best way to deal with colds and the flu. This information has been known by practitioners in the health and healing field for decades. The writer also shows how conventional treatment is flawed."The next time you experience a cold or the flu, remember this: rather than take conventional drugs to suppress uncomfortable symptoms, it's better for your health to allow the cold or flu to run its course while you get plenty of physical and emotional rest.
Conventional medicine and the pharmaceutical industry would have you believe that there is no "cure" for the common cold, that you should protect yourself against the flu with a vaccine that is laden with toxic chemicals, and that during the midst of a cold or flu, it is favorable to ease your discomfort with a variety of medications that can suppress your symptoms.
Unfortunately, all three of these positions indicate a lack of understanding of what colds and flus really are, and what they do for your body.
Colds and flus are caused by viruses. So to understand what colds and flus do at a cellular level, you have to understand what viruses do at a cellular level.
Do you remember learning about cellular division in grade seven science class? Each of your cells are called parent cells, and through processes of genetic duplication (mitosis) and cellular division (cytokinesis), each of your parent cells divides into two daughter cells. Each daughter cell is then considered a parent cell that will divide into two more daughter cells, and so on.
Viruses are different from your cells in that they cannot duplicate themselves through mitosis and cytokinesis. Viruses are nothing but microscopic particles of genetic material, each coated by a thin layer of protein.
Due to their design, viruses are not able to reproduce on their own. The only way that viruses can flourish in your body is by using the machinery and metabolism of your cells to produce multiple copies of themselves.
Once a virus has gained access into one of your cells, depending on the type of virus involved, one of two things can happen:

The virus uses your cell's resources to replicate itself many times over and then breaks open (lyses) the cell so that the newly replicated viruses can leave in search of new cells to infect. Lysis effectively kills your cell.

The virus incorporates itself into the DNA of your cell, which allows the virus to be passed on to each daughter cell that stems from this cell. Later on, the virus in each daughter cell can begin replicating itself as described above. Once multiple copies of the virus have been produced, the cell is lysed.

Both possibilities lead to the same result: eventually, the infected cell can die due to lysis.Here is the key to understanding why colds and flus, when allowed to run their course while you rest, can be good for you:

By and large, the viruses that cause the common cold and the flu infect mainly your weakest cells; cells that are already burdened with excessive waste products and toxins are most likely to allow viruses to infect them. These are cells that you want to get rid of anyway, to be replaced by new, healthy cells.

So in the big scheme of things, a cold or flu is a natural event that can allow your body to purge itself of old and damaged cells that, in the absence of viral infection, would normally take much longer to identify, destroy, and eliminate.
Have you ever been amazed by how much "stuff" you could blow out of your nose while you had a cold or the flu? Embedded within all of that mucous are countless dead cells that your body is saying good bye to, largely due to the lytic effect of viruses.
So you see, there never needs to be a cure for the common cold, since the common cold is nature's way of keeping you healthy over the long term. And so long as you get plenty of rest and strive to stay hydrated and properly nourished during a cold or flu, there is no need to get vaccinated or to take medications that suppress congested sinuses, a fever, or coughing. All of these uncomfortable symptoms are actually ways in which your body works to eliminate waste products and/or help your body get through a cold or flu. It's fine to use over-the-counter pain medication like acetaminophen if your discomfort becomes intolerable or if such meds can help you get a good night's rest. But it's best to avoid medications that aim to suppress helpful processes such as fever, coughing, and a runny nose.
It's important to note that just because colds and flus can be helpful to your body doesn't mean that you need to experience them to be at your best. If you take good care of your health and immune system by getting plenty of rest and consistently making health-promoting dietary and lifestyle choices, your cells may stay strong enough to avoid getting infected by viruses that come knocking on their membranes. In this scenario, you won't have enough weak and extraneous cells to require a cold or the flu to work its way through your body to identify and lyse them.
Curious about how to differentiate the common cold and the flu? Here is an excellent summary of the differences from cbc.ca:

A cold usually comes on gradually — over the course of a day or two. Generally, it leaves you feeling tired, sneezing, coughing and plagued by a running nose. You often don't have a fever, but when you do, it's only slightly higher than normal. Colds usually last three to four days, but can hang around for 10 days to two weeks.
Flu, on the other hand, comes on suddenly and hits hard. You will feel weak and tired and you could run a fever as high as 40 C. Your muscles and joints will probably ache, you will feel chilled and could have a severe headache and sore throat. Getting off the couch or out of bed will be a chore. The fever may last three to five days, but you could feel weak and tired for two to three weeks.

One final note on this topic: because the common cold and the flu are both caused by viruses, antibiotics are not necessary. People who take antibiotics while suffering with a cold or flu often feel slightly better because antibiotics have a mild anti-inflammatory effect. But this benefit is far outweighed by the negative impact that antibiotics have on friendly bacteria that live throughout your digestive tract. In this light, if you really need help with pain management during a cold or flu, it is usually better to take a small dose of acetaminophen than it is to take antibiotics."

Saturday, January 4, 2014

The following is by Dr. Fred Hatfield. It describes the regeneration that occurs in our bodies daily. It really is astounding. We have the ability to 'upgrade' our body's condition by changing our lifestyle and paying attention to what we put into our bodies. Consider this:

"Although your body appears to be unchanging, it's always in a constant state of flux. Body protein is constantly being turned over as old cells die and new cells replace them. Science has proven that 98% of the atoms in your body are replaced within one year. In three months, your body produces an entirely new skeleton. Every six weeks, all the cells have been replaced in your liver. You have a new stomach lining every five days. Every month you produce an entirely new skin as dead cells are shed and new cells grow underneath. The proteins in your muscles are continually turned over as muscle is broken down and new tissue is synthesized. Every cell in your body is constantly being recycled. Where do all these new cells come from? These new cells come from the protein you consume every day."

Amazing isn't it? Let me leave you with this: In the past I have always said, and believe it to be true based on the studies and findings of trained experts, that there are fundamentals to everything, be it mathematics or athletic training, physiology or the nutritional needs of the body.
Our bodies have very specific needs as it applies to our intake and usage of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. This subject has been studied and researched by scientists and experts for decades. Their findings, although not as glamorous and fashionable as going 'raw,' vegan or whatever, is based on research. Research that has been done by people who have degrees and titles from actual accredited universities, not from some nebulous online, mail order 'universities'. Their research has been done by people who have no financial gain in what they discover.
I know I have written on this subject previously but I see millions of people going down a road nutritionally that will lead to premature aging and poor health. Our bodies can take a tremendous amount of abuse and neglect, but, there will come a time when you will pay the price for your ignorance or vanity.
I'll leave you with this from Dr. Hatfield and it relates, again, to the necessity of getting quality protein in order for our bodies to thrive. It also speaks to the deficiency that exists in most of today's most trendy diets.
"In order for protein synthesis to occur, an adequate supply of both essential and non-essential amino acids is vital. If one of the essential amino acids is missing, synthesis is halted. Any amino acids that are not used within a short time cannot be stored for future use. Restriction in protein intake will result in protein degradation and muscle breakdown (catabolism)."

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

A quick look at the following top 10 list does two things, first, it confirms what we have all known for years, tobacco is deadly, the other thing, and something that the public is gradually becoming aware of, alcohol serves no useful purpose in any health seeker's life. But, there are two other substances on this top 10 list that millions of adults and children take on a daily basis. One is benzodiazepines which include meds like Ativan, Valium, Xanax and Klonopin. They are anti-anxiety drugs prescribed by physicians. They are addicting, and at least, cause mental and physical dependency. The other, amphetamines, are also listed here, and for some reason the author uses the antiquated term 'greenies' and a baseball reference for them. Today amphetamines are most common in the treatment of ADHD in children and ADD in adults. Interestingly, amphetamines slow children down but act as a 'speeders' in adults. Why they are used for ADD in adults is beyond me. I know about these drugs as one who dispensed Concerta, Adderall, Vyvanase and other ADHD drugs for years, something I now deeply regret. By the way, a very common side effect of amphetamine use in children are a loss of appetite and a delaying of growth. The U.S. prescribes 85% of the ADHD drugs (for children) in the world. That speaks volumes about the medical community in this country.
The message? Do everything you can do to keep it natural.

According to a study published this month in The Lancet, alcohol and tobacco rank among the ten most dangerous substances used by humans. Both alcohol and tobacco have been assessed to be more dangerous than illegal drugs like marijuana or ecstasy.
The following three factors were considered in ranking the harmfulness of each drug that was evaluated:

Physical harm to the user

Addictive potential of the drug

The drug's overall impact on society

Psychiatrists who specialize in treating addictive behavior and legal or police officials with scientific or medical expertise were asked to assign a score to each of the three factors listed above for each drug that was evaluated in this study. All told, 20 different drugs were evaluated, including cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, amphetamines, and LSD.
Ranked from most to least dangerous, the ten most dangerous substances were deemed to be:

4-MTA - is a derivative of amphetamine and has similar effects to ecstasy.

LSD

Methylphenidate - central nervous system stimulant, commonly sold as ritalin.

Anabolic steroids

GHB - short for Gamma hydroxybutyrate, a powerful central nervous system depressant, most commonly known as the date rape drug.

Ecstasy

Alkyl nitrates - group of drugs commonly referred to as poppers.

Khat - an amphetamine-like stimulant.

It is estimated that tobacco causes 40 percent of all hospital illnesses, while alcohol is involved in more than 50 percent of all visits to hospital emergency rooms. In light of these statistics, the authors of this study question why alcohol and tobacco are legal to use within current drug policies for Britain and the United States, while less harmful drugs like ecstasy and LSD are deemed illegal to use.
The bottom line: alcohol and tobacco are two of the most dangerous substances that you can expose yourself to on a regular basis. In terms of overall potential to cause harm, if used regularly, alcohol and tobacco belong in the same category as other recreational drugs like cocaine and heroin.

What This Site is All About

Who doesn't want to be at the top of their game mentally and physically? I do. I want to function at an optimal state mentally and physically, able to take on life's challenges with relative ease. This blog chronicles my efforts to achieve that goal. I believe that in reading this blog others will find encouragement and insights that will be of help to them.However,here is the ESSENTIAL piece of the puzzle in achieving an optimal mental state, you must be physically fit. A sound body is essential for a sound mind. That's a fact, not a cliché.I will give a daily run-down on what my efforts to reach optimal fitness are, as well as suggestions and opinions on everything pertaining to lifestyle issues, what you eat and how you think.Posts will be most everyday and to the point. You may not agree with what is said but it will hopefully encourage you to think,to think as an individual, not as others think you should think. I encourage feedback and input.

About Me

If you haven't seen my other Blog, www.torunistolive.blogspot.com I would highly recommend you take a look at it. There are over 300 articles covering almost every aspect of running.It is unlike any other running site on the Web. With that said, decades of running and coaching are the result of my passion for the purest of all sports,distance running. I had the good fortune to be introduced to Percy Cerutty through his writings in the mid-80's. From there I incorporated his principles into my training and life. I also formed a group of athletes called the Stotans that are still at it today.